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JAMES H. -sWETr- 0F BIRMINGHAM, PEN'NSYLMAN'IAl Letters PatentNo.79,515, dated -June 30, 1868.

'IMPROVED RAILWAY-JOINT.

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To ALL WHOM` IT MAY coNeER-N:

Y VBe it known that I, JAMES HQ SWETT, of Birmingham,` county otAllegheny, in the State of Pennsylvania, have inventeda new and nsefulImprovement in Railroad-Joints; and I do hereby declare the following isa full and exact description thereof, referencebeing had totheaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,-like pavrts being indicated by likeI letters in the several iigures.

The nature of my invention consists in a peculiar method, to behereafter described, of making a. secure joint between railroad-rails orbars.v l l .To enabie others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will proceed todescribe its construction and operation. I

In the `drawings.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of tw'o sections`of rails with myimprovement attached.

Figure 2 is a top view of same. f

Figure 3 a sectional view, whilst Figure'4 is a perspective view of apeculiar washer.

A A represent sections of rails, and a the joint.

B B are jaws, one on each side ofthe rails, and breakingjoints withthe-same.

C C are the two parts of my clamp, connected by 'a bolt, b, headed atone end, as at c, whilst a. nut, n, is on the other or screw-cnd,bctween'which nut-and the clamp there is a washer, d.

Y The rails and jaws are properlypunched for spikes, allowance beingniade for usual contraction and expansion.- It willbe seen the jaws donot abut against each other-neither the two parts of the clamp, thisbeing intended to allow for expansion ot' such parts. y

`e is a lug or lugs on part of clamp. The number of these can beregulated atpleasure, their purposeibeing a detent, tolprevcnt (throughthe washer d) the nuWunscrwing. from the passage of trains. The jaws areintended to'be of wrought'iromeasily rolled like cl1airs, and they-maybe of any desired length, say suicient to bridge two close ties. v .Oneor moreclamps can be applied to the same. l

After the c'lnmpis screwed up," the lip fo'f the'washer d is turncd`(erbent) down between the lugs on one side ofthe clamp. The other end ofthe washeris turned up,- as at g, aga-inst one side of thenut. Itwillthus readily be seen thatthe-'nut n cannot 'unscrew or get loose whilstthe lip or handl'eof the washer is betweenvthe lugse in a bent-downposition. It can also be readily perceived that my clamp can be adjustedat pleasure, that is, the nut can be screwed up or unscrewcd, to allowfor any contraction or expansion. I Thepbolt 6 should be so formed atthe headed end as to prevent turning.

I am aware ofthe patents of H. W.l Gray, September 20, 1859, also thatof O. J. Hall, March 4, 1862, as also that of.D. W. Crocker,(railroadcliairs) March 6, 18605 and "further, I was aware of the samebefore pre. senting my applicatiomjudging neither of these conicted withmy application.

Hax'iiig-thus described my invention, what claim as new, and desire tosecure 'by Let-ters Patent of the i In combi-nation'with the abnttingends of two railroad-rails, the dividedjaws B, and the divided clamp CC, said clamp being drawn u p tight against thejawls, and the jawsagainst the rails, by a through-boltand nut, for thc-purpose ofstrengthening thejoint, substantially as described.

Witnesses: e

S. AS. FAnNEsro'cu, EDM. F. BnowN.

